Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-08-13

Indians Sleeping at tar stake Of Tor
turc->Iumber During Cannonade.
Influence OF Habit, Time and Circum-
stance-ENtraordinary Phenomena.
| Sleep in most individuals lasts for the
space Of eight hours. Exceptions Ia this
statement are numerous; whether these
arise from duty or laZiness we shall not
venture to examine. Sir f.. Darlington,
the famous naval officer when a midship-
man, could watch OH deck for nineteen
hours: tins left only five for sleep which
In his case was most prufound-so pro-
found that no noise was sufficiently strong
To waken him; Yet if the word Signal
was whispered in his ear he awoke and
was ON deck instantly
Reporters of the house OF commons re-
quire great eNertions to keep themselves
from sleeping. \ few years ago dis
tinguished member of ''thc gentlemen in
the gallery took down a speech while he
was sleeping. His statement rests on his
oath. Calvin tells of friend Of his read
ing aloud To him while asleep. The organ
Of vision was alone active
ColcridCe, the dreaming philosopher,
composed 'kubla Khan" (one of his
poems while fast asleep. Next morning
he was sure there had been an acquisition
10 his literature, but was too negligent to
write the stanzas- \ few days afterward
he attempted to recall the verses, but they
had for the most part fled and the poem
as it now stands is but fragment.
IN SPITE OF SURROUNDINGS
Every one knows that extreme fatigue
induces sleep, and this in spite of sur
rounding relations, which III ordinary cir
CumstanceS would hinder any one from
resting. Previous to the shortening Of
the hours Of work factory children fire.
quently fell asleep while working at the
machines, although well aware that they
would incur severe punishment by doing
SO. The North American Indian. at the
stake of torture, has been known To 90 TO
sleep on the least remission of agony, and
will slumher until the fire is applied TO
awaken him.
1t is on record that during the heat Of
the battle of the Nile some Of the over
fatigued boys fell asleep upon the deck,
ana during the attack upon Rangoon, in
the Burmese war, the captain of one Of
the steam frigates most actively engaged,
worn out by the excess of continued men
tai tension, fell asleep and remained per
fectly unconscious for two hours within q
yard of his largest guns, which were
being worked energetcally the whole
period.
Habit and time, place and circumstances
predispose us all TO sleep. The celebrated
pedestrian, Capt. Barclay. when accom-
plishing his extraordinary feat of walking
l,oOO miles in as many successive hours,
obtained ut last such a mastery over him
self that he fell asleep the instant he lay
down. The doctors wife never hears the
door bell during the night although the
noise Is sufficient to rouse the wearied
husband; but should child in the nur-
sery cry. then the mother, oblivious to all
other sounds, hears at once the infants
voice.
EXTRAORDINARY PHENOMENA.
1t is related that the Able Faria, who
acquired notOriety through his power Of
inducing somnambulism. was accustomed
merely To place his patient in an armchair,
after telling him tn shut his eyes and col
lect himself, and pronounce in a strong
voice, ''dormer, which was usually sue
cessful.
There seerls TO be 10 limit to the
wonders dispIayeu Uy man l.. -I--r.-.,
Condercet the mathematician, solved one
of his most difficult problems while asleep
ing his waking hours. A professor OF
theology in the University of Basic once
wrote a sermon while asleep; he found it
on his desk next morning. The preceding
night he could not grapple with the sub
ject as he desired. but the performance Of |
mis- sleeping hours was quite satisfactory |
to him.
Jenny Lind was one OF the most cele- |
hrated singers Of her time. No one could !
rival her powers except factory girl, |
who sang sometimes better than the IA |
nous Jenny. The girl could not attempt |
any difficult piece when awake, but when |
sleeping she sang so correctly, so like the |
renowned artistic, that il was difficult to |
distinguish between their voices. On one |
occasion Nine. Lind heard the girl, who |
even tested the accuracy of her powers by |
giving her long and elaborate chromatic |
exercise. This the sleeping girl per-
formed, much to the wonder OF the ia |
nous Swedish snger-London Telegraph. |